American Association of Critical-Care Nurses partners with the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing to establish scholarships for ADN students

ALISO VIEJO, Calif. – March 13 2025 – The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) and the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) are partnering to provide scholarships to students pursuing associate degrees in nursing.

Students currently enrolled in nursing programs that are institutional members of OADN can apply online for the scholarships by June 1, with awards announced in November.

ADN-prepared nurses play a vital role in delivering high-quality, compassionate care across healthcare settings, ensuring that communities nationwide have access to nursing professionals. Each year, ADN programs educate and prepare approximately 84,000 newly licensed registered nurses (RNs), contributing to nearly half of the total RN workforce (The 2025 National Council of State Boards of Nursing Environmental Scan: Going Beyond). Depending on location, as many as 60% of new nurses enter the profession through the ADN pathway, especially in rural and underserved areas of the United States.

“AACN’s mission—to drive excellence in acute and critical care for nurses, patients, and families—aligns with OADN’s commitment to advancing excellence in associate degree nursing education, strengthening the ADN pathway, and expanding opportunities for students pursuing a nursing career,” said AACN Chief Clinical Officer Vicki Good, DNP, RN, FAAN, CENP, CPPS. “This partnership will champion the success of ADN graduates and support our commitment to stabilizing the nursing workforce.”

The high cost of education is a significant barrier to entering the nursing workforce. Nursing workforce data continue to project a significant gap between the total number of nurses and the total demand for nurses through 2037.

As the leading advocate for associate degree nursing education, OADN deeply values AACN’s recognition of the ADN pathway as an essential pillar of the nursing profession.

“OADN extends our sincere appreciation to AACN for their shared vision and unwavering support of associate degree nursing education,” says OADN President Lynette V. Apen, DNP, RN, CNS, CNE. “We look forward to this collaborative journey in fostering leadership, expanding educational opportunities, and enhancing patient care across all practice settings.”

AACN will fund up to 16 $2,500 prelicensure scholarships in 2025 through its partnership with OADN. The funds come from AACN’s endowment established in 2001 to support scholarships for nursing education, and professional development.

About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: For more than 50 years, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) has been dedicated to acute and critical care nursing excellence. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. AACN is the world’s largest specialty nursing organization, with about 130,000 members and over 200 chapters in the United States. For information about AACN, please visit https://www.aacn.org/

About the Organization for Associate Degree Nursing: The Organization for Associate Degree Nursing (OADN) is a national organization dedicated to advocating for and enhancing the role of the Associate Degree Nurse (ADN). OADN serves as the collective voice for ADN educators and provides a forum for networking and professional development, shaping the future of nursing education and practice. For information about OADN, please visit https://oadn.org